Japan: Billets exports drop 8% m-o-m in Aug'21
Japan registered billets exports of 0.26 million tonnes (mn t) in Aug’21, down by 8% m-o-m as compared to 0.29 mn t in Jul’21, data maintained with SteelMint ...
Japan registered billets exports of 0.26 million tonnes (mn t) in Aug'21, down by 8% m-o-m as compared to 0.29 mn t in Jul'21, data maintained with SteelMint shows. Higher domestic steel demand could probably be the reason for the decline in overall exports.
Japanese mills produced 7.9 mn t of crude steel in Aug'21, higher by 22.9% in comparison to 6.43 mn t in CPLY. Also, in Jan-Aug'21, production rose by 17% y-o-y to 64 mn t compared to 54.70 mn t in Jan-Aug'20, as per the World Steel Association (WSA). Production volumes rose as the economy gradually recovered from the Covid slump. Also, robust downstream demand within and outside the country compelled Japanese mills to produce more.
Taiwan largest importer
Taiwan turned out to be the largest importer of steel billets from Japan at 0.14 mn t in Aug'21, up by 75% m-o-m, outstripping South Korea.
South Korea came down to the second position with 0.07 mn t in August, a m-o-m decrease of 22%. Following this was Thailand with 0.04 mn t, down by 33% m-o-m.
China imported 0.01 mn t of steel billets from Japan in Aug'21 as against 0.03 mn t in Jul'21, a sharp decrease of 66% m-o-m, according to customs data maintained with SteelMint.
Billets exports drop 17% in Jan-Aug'21
Exports of billets from Japan stood at 2.24 mn t in Jan-Aug'21, a y-o-y decline of 17.55% as against 2.71 mn t in Jan-Aug'20.
Taiwan was the largest importer of steel billets with 0.84 mn t in this period, though the volumes fell by 9% y-o-y.
South Korea was the second-largest importer with 0.63 mn t in Jan-Aug'21, down 12%, followed by Thailand with 0.29 mn t, down 26%.
China's billets imports from Japan were recorded at 0.20 mn t in Jan-Aug'21, decreasing by 44% compared to 0.36 mn t in Jan-Aug'20.